Cayuga County, NY Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

Chapter 206 of the Cayuga County Code, the parks ordinance the Parks and Trails Commission enforces on county park property including Emerson Park and the Commission's trails, treats any open fire as disorderly conduct unless it meets one of two conditions. Under § 206-9F(10), a fire is lawful only in a fireplace the Commission has provided for that purpose or at a spot the Commission has specifically indicated, and whoever starts it must keep it under the continuous care of a competent person. The same subsection then adds the grill exception by name: it 'does not exclude the use of privately owned metal grills within designated picnic area,' so a family can bring its own metal barbecue grill onto county park land without violating the fire rule.

That exception carries one hard numeric limit: the grill cannot be used within 50 feet of any building or structure, protecting park buildings and pavilions from grill heat and stray coals. The rule does not distinguish charcoal from propane grills; it covers any privately owned metal grill. Item (9) of the same subsection separately bars discarding a lighted match, cigar, cigarette or other burning object except in a designated receptacle, reinforcing the fire-control theme around the grill exception.